I can confirm that the Microsoft apps are not preloaded but customers are free to download them from the Google Play Store at any point they would like. That way they can pick and choose which of those apps they want to install and use and can remove them when they want as well . We aren't blocking or disabling their usage.

In addition, Neowin says that AT&T has chosen not to preload the OneDrive app on its Galaxy S6. The phone does come with all of the apps in the Samsung-Microsoft agreement from T-Mobile and Sprint.

How did you accomplish this? I have asked support at Verizon, Samsung and Microsoft how I get the free 100GB of extra OneDrive storage for my new S6 and none of them have an answer. Please share your secret with us. BTW, storage is storage, but Verizon's Cloud app is absolute crap compared to Microsoft's OneDrive app.

It makes sense. It's not fair for Verizon if Microsoft is giving away 100 GB of OneDrive cloud storage. Even if it is only for a limited time. Microsoft needs to play nice with all their stakeholders, not just Samsung.

Because they are so contrary! Timely software updates? Nah! Offer competitive rate plans? No, way! Offer the devices customers want? Probably not. BUT, as long as you don't mind saying "thank you sir, may I have another" every month when you get the bill, they do have the best coverage.

I love how Verizon's response is so defensive. But they also pointed out, by not having them installed they can be installed or removed by the user. Yes, we enjoy taking all the crap off your phones. I wish we could take all of it off. Which is why I moved to AT&T. I can buy an unlocked phone that doesn't have any bloatware.

For what's it worth my Nexus 6 I bought at the Verizon store on Edge didn't have one single bloatware app at all. Not even the My Verizon app. I heard rumors that it would install their bloatware when opening play store with Verizon SIM installed but that never happened. I am still bloatfree. Maybe a sign of things to come?

I've also seen reports they removed the Sammy browser, which means you can't use the fingerprint sensor to log in to websites requiring a password. And I don't think the Samsung browser is available on Google Play, so they've blocked this function of phone for Verizon users.

Once again why, despite their faults and inane practices, you gotta commend Apple for being the only company with the balls to stand up to the carriers. In this case, I applaud Apple's refusal to compromise a single inch.

Mighty generous of them not to block the owner of the phone from installing. BTW, this begs the question, can Verizon block the end-user from installing any app from the Play Store or side-loading for that matter?

Who would have thought, say 10 years ago, that we would pay dearly for the privilege of being tracked constantly and to allow third-parties to have the keys to control how we use that very same device?

I wonder, how long it will be before we can't even turn them off? In fact, I wonder now that so many smartphones have sealed batteries, whether they are truly off as long as the battery has juice.

I think I just convinced myself that I need to go the Jack Reacher route.

Verizon used to block certain apps from EA. I don't know how it is now, but back in 201 I purchased The Sims and NFS Shift. There were three copies of the game on the "Android Market" back then - one for international, one for USA, and one for USA-Verizon. So when I moved off Verizon, I lost my purchases. That was a deal between EA and Verizon though. Sometime later they (EA) unified the purchase history of those games, so I can now download them, but I swore off EA because of it.

I got burned on that deal too. I think I ended up buying the Sims, Tetris,NFS Shift and one more EA title--maybe Monopoly?? I have pretty much sworn off of EA ever since but I do confess to keeping PvZ2 just because it's so awesome despite EA's practices.

I hate writing that because the EA I remember growing up with had some fantastic titles on the C64 and Amiga. Their support of the Genesis and EA Sports, IMHO, started a long period of gradual decline for the brand.

So they preload it with a bunch of Verizon bloatware, and then claim to leave the MS app(s) off so users have the choice. Oh the irony. My guess is it's less about the end user having choice, and more about the end user spending more for a 64gb or 128gb phone because they didn't get 2 years of 100gb cloud storage.

Good point, this is most likely the reason for not giving the 100gb of OneDrive storage. $100 more up front for the phone is nothing compared to the recurring monthly fee they'd receive for their storage.

This is completely hypocritical. If it wasn't, why not use that logic on their own apps that most people do not want? Let's face it- at least these MS apps are or can be useful, while the only (most) useful app from Verizon is probably their Verizon Account app. This is 1000% about money -make no mistake. Verizon is in the top 20 most greediest, evil, intrusive companies in existence. Don't forget they tried to patent the ability to put a hidden camera in your cable or satellite box. They offer the most expensive phone packages with the least amount of data for what you pay for. They're not trying to keep your phone from bloat. They're trying to keep your phone from bloat that they don't get paid for, save the manufacturers apps.

You completely missed the point. Verizon's statement is what's hypocritical:

"I can confirm that the Microsoft apps are not preloaded but customers are free to download them from the Google Play Store at any point they would like. That way they can pick and choose which of those apps they want to install and use and can remove them when they want as well . We aren't blocking or disabling their usage."

Verizon loves adding bloatware, when they're getting paid to do so. So, for them to say that they want to give consumers choice in the matter is hypocritical and hilarious.

And, as a Verizon customer, I see no issue in calling them out on their BS.